Yue Lan
Han Chen reached forward, gripping her by the chin, forcing her hollow eyes to meet his. Her body was weak and spirit is damaged. Like a tool, he manipulated her spirit.
He read her memory. Her personality shifted between this defiant and submissive utterly destroying her from within. She even tried writing her diary, but she can't bring to hate him nor write a bad thing about him even while awake with his defiant spirit.
She had some certain notes at her department full of my name only. Since she can't write anything hateful to that, she just rounded circles around them. I will leave her to that... She wasn't the type to feel helplessness and move on, but instead her mind played tricks on her.
...
He modified her memory, locking her memories of submission and adding other things to it with his spirit. Same as the memory of others he spared back then, to be consistent, and adding that his face was memorable and she had an unhealthy crush on him which made her write my name again and again for some time.
Through her will, she eventually managed to get over her unhealthy thoughts. Her mind stabilized and she was able to transform into martial master recently.
And is currently a free women, bravely challenging life's problems and helping others. When she get back together next time she will leave the past behind and burn all that unhealthy notes she left behind. Directives and memories were passed down her subconscious mind.
She was pale and unconscious. keeping her balanced with his spirit force, he applied his healing technique Yīnyáng Liáo Qì Jué, now with preliminary layers of Life law energy add to the mix, her frail body due to deteriorating health rapidly regenerated against nature. He took out some lower level spiritual energy fruit and by the method of partial alchemy, extracted its essence and directed to her. She turned back to her prime within minutes. Scars and internal injuries healed, pores cleaned.
Like a beautiful naked model, she lay on air. She was aged 10 years back to her 20s. Her meridians were rapidly proliferated leading to secondary channels, and mild internal energy infused made her realm climbed into martial master mid level quite fast and stabilize. She would have an easy martial talent in future if she practiced.
Men would have been better for this job...anyway, that's your gift. He thought for a moment about the souls being tormented inside his prison tower in small world for millenniums.
He urged a cleansing spell and together with his telekinetic force kept all the things in proper arrangement. He dressed her at last. Just burned the bullets and the gun she had together. Dropped her on her bed.
Finally locking her door from within, he went to her side and gave a spirit pacifying pill to her. It will clear away all her trauma and induced problems due to gaps in memories and pacify and make her bright. He left through the window in the end.
From start to finish, Han Chen took precautions against any sort of evidences, covering himself with a barrier, negating the sound of gun shots, and her cries, surveillance and even smell.
He really didn't plan to make her reach this point. He had been much crueler than this, but only for the wicked. He himself hates to program people like this unless necessary.
Standing outside, invisible on his sword, he took one last look and sighed and flew past. It would have better if she remained stable till Qin Jianwei woke up.
She stirred awake an hour after he left. She felt extremely refreshed and comfortable in a ling time. Adjusting to the overwhelming internal energy and fragments of obsessions and memories she had, she gradually made herself back to the usual rhythm of her schedule. Looking around her spotless and clean house she actually forgot what happened before she slept.
For the rest of the month, she followed her subconscious directives, performed well and was back to her prime. Her change was warmly welcomed by her coworkers, promotion due to strength improvement and work efficiency waited for her soon and some unanswered questions.
...
__________________________
Han Chen didn't delve on it anymore returning back; he also fell back to his usual lifestyle.
Time passed quietly, and Han Chen spent his free moments cultivating in peace. When he returned, he noticed something he conveniently forgot—his face hadn't changed much over the years.
Given his height and age, no one seemed to question it. So over the course of several months, he subtly altered his appearance, maintaining about 90% of his original features.
It was still within human expectations, but the slight shift in his physique and facial structure to more mature look was enough to turn heads—and even invite some bold confessions. He had already had a standard idol look, now being mature it was very tempting. His spirit sense rippled with so many pink emotions and lavender excitement from both men and women he met.
Hye Won, was with him most of the time. Han Chen never knew what to say about that. She had rejected confession to herself from others, telling him her focus was only on academics, and somehow, by default, he became the person she spent the most time with.
She treated him as the solution to all her academic struggles, and assignments. Han Chen get to know more about her. She only had a single parent, her mother. It was a little difficult to support Hye Won for education, but combine with her scholarships and grants and part time work, she could afford this. She was a bright student anyways.
Coming to him, with his vast knowledge and experience, he quickly gained favor with their professors, especially in evaluations and mock court trials. Compared to school, he had more free time than ever. But an internship was mandatory.
A two-month stint at a certified law firm. He was assigned to handle litigation for a startup, a straightforward case with an easy win. Hye Won was also placed there, though she worked on drafting processes. But what truly stood out during that time was an unexpected encounter—meeting Yue Lan in person and that changed many things
It wasn't the first time he had sensed her presence. Through his spirit sense, he had occasionally saw her within the domain. He had even followed her on social media. In a way, he had been something of an invested stalker. But seeing her tone, watching her command a room—it was different from any impression he had built in his mind.
...
Some time ago.
A month and a half into his internship at Yǔn Hé Law Firm, Han Chen adjusted his suit. A normal, corporate suit—not his armor transformation, just standard formal wear.
Their client, Horizon Biotech, a subsidiary of Yue Group, was in the middle of a major restructuring. Patent licensing negotiations were at a critical juncture, and even the slightest contractual misstep could cost billions.
Attorney Lin gave him a brief glance before speaking. "Han Chen, just observe and assist. Keep your comments to yourself unless absolutely necessary."
Han Chen nodded. Earlier that month, his precise work on the startup case had already drawn attention. And now, despite still being an intern, he had managed to land an assignment where he would meet her in discussion stage, with a valid reason. It wasn't just about the internship anymore as its requirements were long completed.
How else was he supposed to meet a woman like Yue Lan? She wasn't the type to casually appear in cafés or social gatherings. If he wanted an encounter, it had to be through work—without forcing it.
Inside the meeting room, the Horizon Biotech representatives were already immersed in reviewing the contracts. And then, she arrived. Yue Lan. The CFO of Yue Group. Her presence in a meeting with external law firm alone shows the importance of the process. This wasn't just another routine legal discussion, her involvement meant real money was at stake for those involved.
She wore a tailored black suit, her posture exuding an authority that came naturally to those in power. Her face was symmetrical, with a soft defined structure, high cheekbones tapering gently to a delicate chin. She had the deep, natural black of her hair and almond-shaped eyes. Her lips, enhanced with just a touch of rosy makeup, added a refined elegance to her composed expression.
Soon as she assumed her position, the discussion moved quickly, vendor agreements, compliance risks, liability clauses. Everything was dissected with brutal efficiency. Then, a small inconsistency in the contract surfaced, one that could have been exploited in future negotiations. Han Chen, who had worked on the initial drafts, silently pushed forward a corrected version.
"Clause 14.2 should reference the revised regulation under Act 157-B. This ensures vendor liability remains in effect post-merger."
Yue Lan's eyes flickered toward the man who was just observing her all these while. It was nothing new. She already feel that all the while being in such a position. But the person feel somewhat different from the rest of them. No, its not because of his handsome face, she wasn't the one to bother with that. A moment of acknowledgment for a favorable clause, and then it was gone.
Han Chen had expected something—some kind of reaction from himself—after seeing her. Maybe a wave of nostalgia, an instinctive tug at his heart, or even the spark of love at first sight. No, Nothing. A visit in person also didn't help with that.
His past memories of her didn't match reality. She was no delicate figure from a past life. She was sharp, confident, and carried the distinct arrogance of a woman who had carved her own place in this world.
The mute, vegetative figure he had once known and the woman now commanding this meeting these were two entirely different people.
He didn't feel admiration like the others in the room. While the rest of the panel regarded her with a mix of reverence and awe, he remained as easygoing as ever, the lack of reaction plain on his face. And the only person who noticed was the girl sitting beside him.
Later that day, he found himself lost in thought, trying to pinpoint what was truly bothering him. For once, his calculations weren't adding up.
It wasn't Qin Jianwei's past influence—he was sure of that. If two people truly loved each other and were willing, he had no issue with accepting their past, even if they had been with someone else before, unless they have their own children. Accepting a child means causing direct karmic connection with that lineage. Those are trouble.
In the grand scheme of things, for someone who could live for millions of years, how could any of it matter?
He wasn't one to cling to outdated notions of superiority or power dynamics between men and women. In fact, at a certain level of cultivation, even sex itself lost meaning. When one sought only the Dao, identity became an afterthought.
The self was simply the self. Coming from such a world, he had long transcended such distinctions. So what reason did he have to judge?
Maybe it was something else. Maybe, in some way, he had already been with her in another life. Seeing her again—this version of her, an alternate self in a different timeline—felt... wrong. Like a misplaced piece in a puzzle..
No, this was different. Is the problem still with me?
Wait. Have I lived so long that even the feeling of young love no longer feels new?
He had been with many women throughout his journey, trying to wear down the mental blocks within himself. But he had never felt that any of them were his true partner.
Could it be, as the system once suggested, that he was destined to walk alone? The low-profile way of the Dao didn't advocate celibacy, nor did it impose any restrictions beyond its name. His path shouldn't have interfered with his sense of self.
Or could it be something else—the merger of his consciousness with the system? No. His regrets retained their influence even though is already loosened very much... He could still perceive them, lingering like shadows in his mind.
Maybe that was all there was to it. Maybe all he really needed was to ensure her safety, to shield her from whatever troubles lay ahead. Perhaps that alone was enough—to finally silence the echoes of his past, to break free from the heart demon he had left behind.